Plastic refrigerator with reinforcing framework

ABSTRACT

In the preferred form of this refrigerator cabinet for installation in a wall, a rectangular framework supports walls of plastic foam insulation surrounding the insulated compartment. This framework is embedded in the insulation. A plastic sheet inner liner extends within and lines the insulated compartment and has outwardly extending flanges forming the front of the cabinet and hiding the foam insulation.

United States Patent Mann [451 Apr. 4, 1972 [54] PLASTIC REFRIGERATORWITH 3,405,987 10/1968 Pulaski ..312/214 REINFORCING FRAMEWORK 2,054,3239/1936 Holbrook ..220/9 R [72] Inventor: Leonard J. Mann, Dayton, OhioFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: General MotorsCorporation, Detroit, 702,294 1/1965 Canada ..312/214 Mich.

Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair [22] 1970 Assistant Examiner-James R.Garrett 2 33 22 Attorney-William S. Pettigrew, Frederick M. Ritchie andEdward P. Barthel [52] US. Cl .1 ..220/9 F, 312/214 57 ABSTRACT [51]Int. Cl ..B65d 25/18 v I [58] Field of Search F, 83, 9 G; 312/213, Inthe preferred form of this refrigerator cabmet for installa- 312/214tion in a wall, a rectangular framework supports walls of plastic foaminsulation surrounding the insulated compart- 56] Reerences Cited ment.This framework is embedded in the insulation. A plastic sheet innerliner extends within and lines the insulated com- UNITED STATES PATENTSpartment and has outwardly extending flanges forming the front of thecabinet and hiding the foam insulation. 2,725,271 11/1955 Cunningham..312/214 1 2,576,208 1 H1951 Benson .312/214 UX 1 Claim, 4 DrawingFigures PLASTIC REFRIGERATOR WITII REINFORCIN G FRAMEWORK Kitchenstyling in recent years has favored building appliances such as ovensand surface heaters into the wall and counter tops. Since refrigeratorsare predominantly built in large production as separately styled units,the installation of refrigerators into the wall has been kept at aminimum.

It is an object of this invention to provide a low cost efficient saferefrigerator cabinet for installation in a wall which will have a lowtooling, low material and low material cost for mass production andwhich can be readily and quickly made and also which can be readilychanged in design and appearance.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet embodying oneform of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the lines2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the framework of the cabinet; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the inner liner and theremaining walls of the cabinet.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 3, there isshown a rectangular framework which is made up of four upright anglemembers forming four vertical corners of the framework with the frontuprights being designated 20 and 22 and the rear uprights beingdesignated 24 and 26. These uprights are connected at the top by a setof four horizontal angle members with the member 28 connecting the topof the front members 20 and 22, the member 30 connecting the tops of therear upright members 24 and 26 and the side angle members 32 and 34connecting the upright members 20 and 24 and 22 and 26 along the sidesof the framework.

At the bottom is the angle member 36 connecting the bottoms of theupright members 20 and 24, the angle member 38 connecting the bottoms ofthe upright members 22 and 26 and the angle member 40 connecting thebottoms of the upright members -24 and 26. Spaced above the bottom arefour horizontal angle members in which there is a front angle member 42connecting the upright members 20 and 22, side angle members 44 and 46connecting respectively the upright members 20 and 24 and 22 and 26. Therear angle member 48 connects the rear upright members 24 and 26. All ofthese members are L-shaped in cross section and fastened together attheir intersections by welding, rivets, gussets or any other convenientmeans of bonding. They are preferably made of thin steel which may becoated with any suitable material. If desired, they may be provided withouter reinforcing flanges and may be perforated in any manner desired.

Cast over this framework shown in FIG. 3 are the walls of the cabinetwhich are formed of any suitable plastic foam insulation material.However, I prefer to cast the walls of polyurethane foam containinginsulating gas such as monofluorotrichloromethane. As shown particularlyin FIG. 4, the cabinet is formed of plastic foam insulation walls castas a unit over and about the framework with the top wall 50extendingover and between the top set of horizontal members 28 to 34 and with arear wall 52 cast over and between the rear set of members 24, 26, 30,40 and 48. The left side wall 54 is cast over and between the sidemembers 20, 24, 32, 36 and 44 while the right side wall 56 is cast overand between the side wall members 22, 26, 34, 38 and 46. The bottom wall58 is cast over and between the lower set of horizontal members 42 and48. This casting is done as a complete unit with the foam 7 walls 62 and64, side walls 66 and 68 extending to the floor and rear wall 70. Thefront of this member 60 is provided with outwardly extending flanges 72on the top and sides and a more extensive flange 74 which extendsdownwardly to pro vide a front for the machinery compartment 76 which islocated beneath the bottom wall 58. This downwardly extending portion 74is provided with an integral louvered opening 78 which provides for thecirculation of air into and out of the machinery compartment 76. Theliner 60 may be provided with any of the many well known arrangementsfor supporting refrigerator shelves therein.

When the liner member 60 is inserted into the cabinet it will fitagainst and be supported by the interior walls of the foam insulationmaterial andthe outward flanges 72 and 74 and cover the front of theinsulation and provide a suitable front to the cabinet. The cabinet maybe provided with any form of insulated door which will harmonize withthe design of the kitchen. The hinges for the door may be fastenedthrough the flanges 72 to either of the front upright members 20 or 22of the framework. The outer surface of the foam insulation materialforming the walls of the cabinet may be sealed by any suitable coatingsuch as polyethylene, asphalt coated paper, polyester of ethylene glycoland terephthalic acid or metal foil or foil coated paper or other metalfilm coating.

Inasmuch as the cabinet is to be built into the wall the sides, top,bottom and rear walls will be concealed and therefore do not require afinished surface. The cabinet will be very light in weight and easy toinstall. The inner liner member 60 is preferably made in one piece.Inasmuch as all parts of the cabinet can be readily made withoutexpensive tooling and since the number of exposed finished surfaces arelimited, changes in dimension and design can be readily made withoutincurring a large tool cost. This cabinet, therefore, will promote thebuilding of refrigerator cabinets into the walls of kitchens.

While the embodiments of the invention as herein disclosed constitutepreferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might beadopted.

lclaim:

l. A refrigerator cabinet for installation in a kitchen wall including asteel frame of rectangular parallelepipedal shape comprising fourelongated corner upright members of L- shaped cross section and an upperset of four elongated horizontal members of L-shaped cross sectionfastened to said upright members in a rectangular configurationextending between the tops of said upright members, three elongatedbottom horizontal members of L-shaped cross section in a front openingU-shaped configuration extending between said upright members so as toconnect the bottoms thereof along each side and the rear of said frame,a lower set of four elongated horizontal members of 'L-shaped crosssection fastened to said upright members in a rectangular configurationextending between said upright members and spaced above said bottomhorizontal members defining a machinery compartment therebetween withrectangular shaped forward and rearward facing opening between saidlower set of four members and said three bottom members, cabinet wallsof polyurethane plastic foam insulation material molded about andextending between said upper and lower sets of horizontal members andbetween said upright members on the top, sides and rear of said frame,said frame being embedded within and supporting said cabinet walls, arectangular parallelepipedal shaped liner member performed of sheetplastic material extending within said cabinet walls between said upperand lower sets of horizontal members and having at the front relativelyshort integral outwardly extending top and side flanges completelycovering the front edges of said cabinet walls as to be flush with saidcabinet top and side walls, said inner liner having a bottom relativelylong integral flange extending downwardly in flush relationship with thelower edges of said frame side walls so as to completely cover the frontopening of said machinery compartment, said downwardly extending bottomflange having louvered openings molded therein to allow for thecirculation of air into and out of said machinery compartment, and saidcabinet side, top, bottom and rear wall outer surfaces being sealed by acoating material forming an outer cabinet shell whereby said cabinet islocated in the kitchen wall. 5

1. A refrigerator cabinet for installation in a kitchen wall including asteel frame of rectangular parallelepipedal shape comprising fourelongated corner upright members of L-shaped cross section and an upperset of four elongated horizontal members of L-shaped cross sectionfastened to said upright members in a rectangular configurationextending between the tops of said upright members, three elongatedbottom horizontal members of L-shaped cross section in a front openingU-shaped configuration extending between said upright members so as toconnect the bottoms thereof along each side and the rear of said frame,a lower set of four elongated horizontal members of Lshaped cRosssection fastened to said upright members in a rectangular configurationextending between said upright members and spaced above said bottomhorizontal members defining a machinery compartment therebetween withrectangular shaped forward and rearward facing opening between saidlower set of four members and said three bottom members, cabinet wallsof polyurethane plastic foam insulation material molded about andextending between said upper and lower sets of horizontal members andbetween said upright members on the top, sides and rear of said frame,said frame being embedded within and supporting said cabinet walls, arectangular parallelepipedal shaped liner member performed of sheetplastic material extending within said cabinet walls between said upperand lower sets of horizontal members and having at the front relativelyshort integral outwardly extending top and side flanges completelycovering the front edges of said cabinet walls as to be flush with saidcabinet top and side walls, said inner liner having a bottom relativelylong integral flange extending downwardly in flush relationship with thelower edges of said frame side walls so as to completely cover the frontopening of said machinery compartment, said downwardly extending bottomflange having louvered openings molded therein to allow for thecirculation of air into and out of said machinery compartment, and saidcabinet side, top, bottom and rear wall outer surfaces being sealed by acoating material forming an outer cabinet shell whereby said cabinet islocated in the kitchen wall.